"Yeah, and he gets three square meals a day, paid medical care, and cable TV while I don't have a penny to my name after twelve years of working my ass off."
"They haven't been able to get any of the money back?"
She shook her head. "It's all gone. He spent every dime."
Lucy crawled across the couch and wrapped her arms around Kate. "I'm so sorry."
Kate didn't let Lucy's hug touch her heart. If she did, she'd break down and sob. And once that dam opened, everything else would flood out too. Like the fact that she'd loved Holden for years. Secretly, of course, because on their one failed date—when Kate suggested they give it a try—he'd burst out laughing and said the idea of them romantically together was ridiculous. He'd leaned across the table and kissed her forehead as her heart shrunk and told her he loved her. She was his best friend, after all.
Yeah. She was stupid. So stupid.
What kind of woman wastes almost an entire decade loving a man who had no interest? Loving him so much that every other relationship she tried at failed since her heart wasn't in it. Kate had clung to the tiniest bit of hope that one day Holden would see her as something more.
"He took advantage of you, Kate," Lucy said softly. "He took your love and friendship and loyalty for granted. It might not have been that way in the beginning, but he changed. I'm so pissed at him. He was like family to the rest of us."
"I know." It had been a shock to them all, what Holden had done.
Lucy sat back with a sniff. "Bastard."
"You're too nice, Lucy," Kate told her with a smile she didn't feel.
Lucy shrugged. "Not always. Had I been there when all this went down, I think I might have gone postal on his ass. Seriously."
"You sound like Gram. She tried to convince Vinny Loren from upstairs to whack Holden for fifty bucks. Good thing I got there when I had. He didn't know what the hell to think. Never seen her so angry…" Tears rose at the memory. Gram had crumbled after that, crying, feeling helpless, unable to make it better for her granddaughter. It had broken Kate's heart.
"Anyway," Kate said, shaking off the memory. "I'm here now. Gonna get my act together, make a plan, figure out how to start over. Have some me time."
Lucy gave Kate's shoulder a squeeze. "It's a good place to do it.
Chapter 3
Surprisingly enough, Kate slept well and woke up feeling more rested than she had in the last two months. There was something about keeping the windows open, hearing the sounds of the night animals, snuggling into the soft mattress as the temp dropped.
The sun was shining. Birds were singing. Kate made coffee and took it to the stone terrace that faced the loch. She smiled, this time feeling it all the way to her toes. Scotland did not disappoint. It lived up to every picture, every fantasy, every idea she'd had.
Nice to know some things were what they seemed.
Once she got her obligatory visit with Devin's dog out of the way, the day was hers and full of promise. After a quick shower, she dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, then pulled on her hiking boots, grabbed a light jacket and left the cottage.
As she went to get the bike leaning against the wall, movement caught her eye. It was the Scottish Terrier again. From its size, she guessed it to be male. He stood across the road in the high grass, watching her. Kate wasn't the best trainer in the world—not even close, but she had a feel for dogs, a sense that told her their mood, and this one was looking at her with such hope, such pleading.
"Stay right there," she said softly, going back into the cottage to root in the fridge and cupboards. Lucy had already stocked the kitchen in preparation for Kate's visit. In place of dog food, she chose some bread, plain crackers, and then cut up a small summer sausage into cubes. Just a few, though.
The terrier was still there when she returned. Feeling hopeful, she set the plate in the grass, backed away, and whistled to the dog. He whined, took a tentative step toward the road, but didn't cross. Kate grabbed the bike, hopped on, and pedaled slowly away. When she finally stopped and looked back, the dog was wolfing down the food.
That should hold him until she could get some proper food. Satisfied she'd done her good deed for the day, she continued on.
The ride added to her good mood. It felt wonderful, the cool wind on her face, the scenery, the absence of man-made sounds. It made her feel as though she could handle anything, that everything was going to be okay.
That feeling ebbed after the first mile.
Her thighs burned. Sweat dampened her skin, and her heart pounded. Devin could have mentioned his house was a fewmilesdown the road.
Finally she saw the large stone farm house set in a flat valley between two hills. Slowing the bike, Kate turned left and coasted through a stone-flanked entryway and then down the long, rather bumpy lane. It was a beautiful spot, and the house was impressive. The closer she came, she saw time had done its work on the structure; the house was in desperate need of repair.
And from the amount of lumber, stone, and other supplies loaded in the truck parked out front, repairs were apparently under way. It'd be pretty when it was fixed, she thought, eyeballing the architecture and grounds as she walked her bike to the front, leaned it against the house, and then stepped to a tall front door with a neat little window and peeling blue paint.
Kate took a moment to compose herself. It was like any fear or anxiety. Prepare yourself with a mental image. She hoped envisioning Devin's big shoulders filling the doorway would lessen the impact. He wouldn't get to her again. Simply because she wasn't in the market. Though, she supposed since she wasn't, enjoying the view wouldn't hurt. In fact, he was just the sort of man she fantasized about during all of her Scottish daydreams.
